Audiovisual Accessibility in Iranian Online Platforms from the Perspective of the Needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Audiences

Abstract

The global emphasis on inclusive media has gained significant momentum. Assistive modes of audiovisual translation, including subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH), sign language interpretating, and customizable caption have become essential for ensuring content is accessible. While global streaming platforms have increasingly integrated these tools, the accessibility of Iranian streaming services remains largely underexplored. This study investigates the current state of SDH on nine major Iranian streaming platforms, with a strong focus on two leading Iranian streaming services, Filimo and Namava. Using a qualitative descriptive content analysis, the research examines to what extent the content these streaming platforms offer is accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing viewers. The paper also explores Filimo and Namava against relevant Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 criteria for time-based media. The findings show that Filimo offers the most comprehensive accessible services, providing broad subtitle coverage, SDH coverage for select content, contentand sign language interpretating, advanced customization settings, and a dedicated “deaf collection”. Namava’s accessibility of its content is fairly limited, offering SDH for some films and TV shows. Indeed, this platform suffers from a poor discoverability of its accessible content. The other platforms demonstrate minimal or fragmented accessibility, often lacking SDH or sign language interpretating support entirely. Assessment against WCAG 2.1 highlights shared gaps across platforms, including inconsistent SDH provision, unclear labeling, and insufficient integration of sign language interpretating. These results underscore the need for policy development and industry initiatives to enhance accessibility, ensuring that the deaf and hard of hearing audiences in Iran can engage with streaming content on equal terms with hearing users.